Staunton, Sir George Thomas

FIRST EDITION, THE AUTHOR'S OWN COPY, 8vo (214 x 125mm.), viii, 480pp., 2 pencil drawings pasted in opposite title, contemporary calf, binding somewhat faded and rubbed, rebacked

Sir George Staunton, bookplate

Lust 549; not in Löwendahl

the condition of this lot is as described in the catalogue description
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

THE AUTHOR'S OWN COPY, WITH HIS BOOKPLATE, AND INCLUDING TWO PENCIL DRAWINGS, OF THIS RARE, PRIVATELY PRINTED WORK. COPAC locates just four copies.

"[This] is not a work presented to, or prepared for the public eye, but merely a series of Notes written during (what was to the Author) a very interesting journey; and now printed solely for private distribution among a few of the Author's friends, whose curiosity respecting the Embassy, the published narratives of it may not have yet wholly exhausted" (author's 'advertisement').

George Thomas Staunton (1781-1859), was the son of Sir George Leonard Staunton (d.1801) who had been principal secretary to Lord Macartney's embassy to China in 1792 and who wrote a well-known account of it in 1797. The son was an eminent sinologist. Instructed in Chinese by two native missionaries from an early age, he accompanied his father as part of Macartney's embassy, when, at the age of twelve he was the only member of the embassy who could speak Chinese. Having been employed in various roles in China in the first two decades of the nineteenth century, he was promoted to chief of the Canton factory in 1816 and accompanied Amherst's embassy to Peking, which is described in considerable detail in this work.